Sebastian’s face darkened instantly, his voice cold. "What are you doing here? Who let you in? I didn't send you an invitation."

Chloe bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly. "I am your fiancée. You’re throwing a birthday party for another woman—am I not even allowed to show up?"

Sebastian’s gaze was sharp, his tone a warning. "Chloe, don't make a scene here."

Chloe seemed not to hear him. Her eyes swept over every corner of the gala hall, her voice rising.

"Look at this place. These flowers are Juliet Roses—the most expensive variety in the world. You’ve used so many that this must have cost at least twenty million. And this carpet we’re standing on—it’s a hand-woven Persian rug, isn't it? One of these costs ten million. Look at these chandeliers, these oil paintings... you’ve spent hundreds of millions on this party alone! Not to mention the priceless gifts you’ve prepared!"

Her voice was thick with resentment, as if she were venting every grievance she possessed. Sebastian’s expression grew uglier by the second, and the surrounding guests began to whisper. The scene was reaching a peak of awkwardness.

Seeing this, the circle of friends hurried forward to intervene.

One grabbed Chloe’s arm and whispered urgently, "Look, didn't we explain this to you? Seb is only with Natalia because she’s Weston’s sister. You know Weston, right? Seb’s biggest rival. They’ve been at each other's throats for years. He’s using her to get back at him. Once he’s done, he’ll dump her. Don't ruin it! What if she notices something is off? She’s going to be here any minute—you need to leave now!"

Another leaned in, his tone placating. "Exactly, Miss Chloe. Go home for now. Once he’s handled things here, he’ll find you and explain everything."

Chloe shoved their hands away, her voice shrill. "Why? I’m his fiancée, yet I have to hide in the shadows while she—a mere tool—gets showered with affection? I won't accept it! Sebastian, I want you to tell me to my face: are you really just using Natalia?"

She stared directly into his eyes, trying to see through to his soul.

Sebastian remained silent, his gaze as cold as ice, as if her questioning had nothing to do with him.

The friends were getting desperate. One nudged him. "Seb, say something! Don't let this escalate!"

"Just say you don't love her and we can get rid of her. Say it."

"Seb, you’ve said it before. Just tell her one more time."

But Sebastian still didn't speak. He only looked at Chloe coldly.

Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes, her voice sounding hopeless. "Fine. I don't care about any of that. I don't care about revenge. I want you to break up with her right now and marry me!"

She began to recount how long she had loved him, her voice cracking. "Do you have any idea how many years I’ve loved you? The first time I saw you was in a hall just like this one."

"I was only sixteen. it was your birthday. You were in a black suit, standing in the center of the crowd—the golden boy, the center of everyone’s world. You were so radiant. From that day on, I couldn't see anyone else. I’ve spent all these years following you, even if you never gave me a second look. When I heard about the engagement, do you know how happy I was? I’d give you the entire Chloe family fortune if you wanted it! I can give you anything. I just want you to break up with her right now!"

"Sebastian, no matter what, I am forcing you to break up with her today!"

Chapter Eleven

Her voice grew louder and her emotions more volatile. The guests' whispering intensified, and the situation was spiraling out of control.

Sebastian’s face was like stone, but a flicker of complex emotion crossed his eyes.

The friends were frantic. One whispered to him, "Seb, say something! If this goes on, it’s going to be a disaster!"

Still, Sebastian said nothing.

Chloe’s tears finally fell, her voice full of despair. "Sebastian, do you love her or not? Tell me! Look, they all say it’s just a matter of one sentence, yet you refuse to say it. Do you know why that is?"

Sebastian’s eyes flickered. He finally spoke, his voice freezing. "Chloe, have you had enough?"

Chloe ignored him, pressing further. "I haven't had enough! Not only have I not had enough, I’m going to make a scene! Tell me! Do you love her? If you don't, why spend so much money on her? Why throw such a grand party? Why protect her, even to the point of getting yourself hurt?"

Sebastian’s expression darkened further, a spark of anger in his eyes. He grabbed Chloe’s wrist, his voice low. "Chloe, don't push me."

Chloe seemed beyond caring. "I’m pushing you? Sebastian, you’re the one pushing me! I’ve loved you for so many years, yet you hurt me over and over for a woman you’re just using! Do you even have a heart?"

Chloe’s voice echoed through the hall, sharp and piercing like a blade against Sebastian’s eardrums. Her accusations and her questioning felt like they were tearing his heart to pieces.

Sebastian’s face was cold, but there was an almost imperceptible trace of panic in his eyes. He waved a hand, signaling the security guards to take Chloe away.

"You didn't give an answer, yet you gave the ultimate answer! You’re pathetic—you’re head over heels in love, yet you’re still telling yourself you’re getting revenge!"

Chloe was dragged out by the guards, her voice still shrieking, venting all her misery.

Sebastian’s face turned ashen. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. He scanned every person in the room, his gaze lethal. "Enough."

After Chloe was gone, a dead silence fell over the hall.

The friends looked at each other, their faces full of unease and confusion. Finally, someone couldn't help but speak up. "Seb, why didn't you just say it? It could have been solved with one sentence. Why let her make such a mess?"

"Yeah, Seb, you—"

Sebastian’s gaze was sharp, his voice vibrating with suppressed rage. "She comes to interrogate me, and now you lot want to interrogate me too? She’s going to be here any minute. What would it look like if she saw you hounding me like this?"

The crowd was silenced by his tone.

Someone muttered, "It’s been so long. Why isn't Natalia here yet?"

Sebastian frowned. Amidst the murmurs, a wave of unease rose in his own chest. It was true—calculating the time, she was significantly late.

Did something happen?

He pulled out his phone to call her.

However, as he turned on the screen, an unread message popped up. His finger paused. He clicked on it, his gaze landing on the screen—

"Let's break up. I don't love you anymore."

In that moment, Sebastian seemed to be hit by a freezing spell. He stood petrified, frozen in place. His fingers trembled slightly, his eyes glued to the screen, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Shaking, he tried to reply, only to find he had been blocked. He dialed her number, only to hear the cold, mechanical voice of the operator: "The number you have dialed is in flight mode."

He wouldn't accept it and tried again, and again, only to hear the same repetitive message.

"The number you have dialed is in flight mode."

"The number you have dialed is in flight mode."

"The number you have dialed is in flight mode."

She... was on a plane?!

His face turned deathly pale, a look of pure panic flashing in his eyes.

Seeing his state, his friends hurried over. "Seb, what’s wrong?"

"Yeah, what are you standing there for? Call her! This party has been one disaster after another. Any later and who knows who else will show up to cause trouble."

They craned their necks to see his phone and caught sight of the breakup text.

The group erupted into a frenzy of talk:

"Break up? What does that mean? She doesn't love you? She was obsessed with you—how could she suddenly want to break up? This... this is out of nowhere! No warning at all!" someone cried out.

"Seb, how was she when you left this morning? Was anything off?" another asked urgently.

Sebastian’s mind was a chaotic mess as he recalled the scene before he left. Her expression had been calm, even carrying a faint smile. She said she was going to pick up Weston and was carrying a suitcase, saying it was just some old dance clothes she didn't want.

"Holy shit!" someone finally realized, their voice full of shock. "Seb, check your private video vault! Quickly!"

Chapter Twelve

Sebastian’s expression darkened instantly.

He opened his phone, his heart tightening, yet he motioned for the crowd not to surround him.

The group was speechless. "Come on, Seb, are you seriously afraid of us looking at this point?"